Souvenance

‘I think the poet is the last person who is still speaking the truth when no one else dares to. I think the poet is the first person to begin the shaping and visioning of the new forms and the new consciousness when no one else has begun to sense it; I think these are two of the most essential human functions’
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Diane Di Prima, Beat Poet (1934 – )

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An International Print Exchange

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Hong Kong Open Printshop promotes the art of printmaking by curating exchange exhibitions, conducting educational programmes and showcasing Hong Kong printmaking at international symposiums. As an international exchange programme, Hong Kong Graphic Art Fiesta connects national, regional and international art communities. The programme began in 2007 with the opening of the first Hong Kong Graphic Art Fiesta. The feature events that year were “Crossing Boundaries – an International Print Exchange Exhibition” and “Hot Off the Press”, an exhibition of print art by students from local universities and tertiary institutes. The Hong Kong Graphic Art Fiestahas become a major international graphic art exhibition, Crossing Boundaries featured the work of 100 artists from 12 print workshops. Prints from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, UK and the USA illustrated the diversity of contemporary printmaking practice, highlighting both thematic and cultural issues as well as more pragmatic matters such as media, technique and format. By 2010, the Hong Kong Graphic Art Fiesta had developed into a major annual international printmaking exchange exhibition with three main areas of focus – work by established printmakers, work by university students and work by secondary students – rotating every three years. The festival is now two months long and the number of workshops and participating artists has multiplied enormously.

To connect national, regional and international art communities through international exchange exhibitions and educational programmes.

To establish a multi-disciplinary platform for promoting Hong Kong printmaking.

To share the joy of making art with the general public by offering a diverse range of creative programmes.

To support new talent by offering internship and residency opportunities for young artists.

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The success of these exciting and ambitious projects very much reflects the energy and dynamism that is currently driving the economic and cultural renaissance in this corner of South East Asia. Between Hong Kong and Guanlan, across the frontier in Shenzhen, support for printmaking appears to be positive and rising. It will be fascinating to see how subsequent projects will impact upon the development of printmaking in this region and worldwide. (1)

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This lithograph, Woodland Bathing, made in 2012 in the Aberystwyth School of Art print room, is included in the exhibition.

I haven’t posted for a while and so some posts will be a little belated and there may be a few running one after the other. I have been otherwise busy, having a baby! 🙂

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An exciting project and something which I am very proud to take part in is Collaborations: Aberystwyth Paper Press Print. It is a portfolio which has been put together by Master Printer Paul Croft TMP (Albuquerque) RE and was completed at the end of last year.

On his web-site Paul describes it as ‘a portfolio celebrating the diversity of printmaking from traditional to digital. Each of the 30 professional artists, staff and students participating in this project have had contact with the print studio at The School of Art Aberystwyth between 2000-2012. Artists have been encouraged to be experimental and processes include combination of print media, traditional and digital processes, hybrid prints as well as more inter-disciplinary activity such as prints developing from photography, film and video. Artists were also asked to reflect upon their own practice and to produce a print that is representative of their current work’.

The first exhibition where Collaborations: Aberystwyth Paper Press Print will show is at IMPRESS 13, an international printmaking festival showing in various venues in Stroud, Cheltenham and the Cotswolds.

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I am also showing at IMPRESS13 with Aberystwyth Printmakersand feature in the wonderfully produced festival catalogue on the Aberystwyth Printmakers page. For more information on the printmaking festival visit IMPRESS13.

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Now online, see Cardiff print-workshop’s FB page.

Following on from the Eisteddfod this is the second in a series of exhibitions curated by The Original Print Place featuring prints by artists from Aberystwyth Printmakers, Swansea Printmakers, Cardiff Print Workshop and Wrexham Regional Print Centre. Exhibition opens 21st August and continues until 15th September